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AfloatDigi 2018 CHMarine SafetySection

Search & Rescue, Water Safety - News from the Marine Safety Agencies
Portaferry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat arrives at the Killyleagh Yacht Club pontoon
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged at 1.10pm on Sunday afternoon (25 August) at the request of Belfast Coastguard following a report that three kayaks had been spotted, possibly in difficulty, by a member of the public walking their dog.…
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at sunset
Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, the John and Jean Lewis, was launched on Saturday evening (24 August) at the request of Belfast Coastguard following reports that two people had come off their jet ski on the north side of Inish Davar.…
The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat lifeboat assisting the larger speedboat off Blindstrand in West Cork
The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat crew responded to a distress call from the Valentia Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre on Sunday evening. Two separate speedboats, each carrying two individuals, had run into trouble off Blind Strand on the Seven Heads coastline in West…
From left to right. CHC Robbie Adams, Operations Manager and Nominated for Ground Operations; CHC Captain Aaron Hyland, Nominated for Flight Operations; Rob Tatten, CHC, Director of Operations and Accountable Manager Ireland; Captain Ronan Verling,  Manager Specialised Operations and Coastguard Aviation Flight Operations Department, Irish Aviation Authority; Captain Tom O’Connor, Specialised Operations and Coastguard Aviation Irish Aviation Authority
CHC Ireland is to undertake trials of a fatigue risk management system for its flight crew. The system will be piloted for its rotary wing search and rescue and helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations. The company currently holds the…
FV Séimi at her home port of Ballyglass pier in Broadhaven, Co. Mayo
Failure to ensure that there were sufficient crew with qualifications on board contributed to an incident where a man lost his life when he went overboard a crab vessel off the Donegal coast early last year, according to the official…
The Weston Search and Rescue Helicopter Base meets or exceeds all the standards for maintenance, repairs and inspections for the new Irish Coast Guard search and rescue AW189 helicopters (above)
Bristow Ireland says it has reached a “major milestone” with Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) approval for its new base a Weston Airport. The company, which was awarded the new Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter contract, has opted to…
Daisy Bailie, Daniel McGinty and Zoe Johnston got to board the inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson during their visit to the station
Bangor RNLI received a donation from three local children following a recent garden sale. On Wednesday evening (21 August), Daisy Bailie, Daniel McGinty and Zoe Johnston visited the Belfast Lough lifeboat station and presented volunteer crew members James Gillespie and…
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew launch on service
Portaferry RNLI’s pagers sounded at 2.42pm on Thursday afternoon (22 August) to assist three young adults and two dogs stranded on Rough Island after the incoming tide covered the Island Hill causeway. Lifeboat helm Scott Blackwood, with volunteer crew members…
A Skerries RNLI volunteer in the water with the casualty
Skerries RNLI was tasked by Dublin Coast Guard shortly before 7pm on Tuesday evening (20 August) following a report that two kayakers were unable to make it back to the beach in Balbriggan and were being blown out to sea.…
Wicklow RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew return to station after the call-out
Wicklow RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched just before 4pm on Tuesday afternoon (20 August) following a coastguard pager alert to investigate reports of a capsized kayak off Wicklow Harbour. With helm Alan Goucher and two volunteer crew, the lifeboat was…
File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat alongside the all-weather lifeboat
Clifden RNLI launched on Tuesday evening (20 August) to rescue two people and their pet dog from Omey Island after they were cut off by the tide. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked at 8.30pm and launched their Atlantic 85…
Clifden RNLI set up a tow for the stricken 10m yacht which was on passage from Cardiff before breaking down in Connemara waters on Monday morning 19 August
Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were called out on Monday (19 August) to assist two sailors who had run into difficulty in Ballinakill Bay, near Letterfrack. The sailors of the 10-metre yacht were two sister who had passaged from Cardiff…
File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat
Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was afloat on a training exercise on Sunday morning (18 August) when the volunteer crew came across a 13-metre vessel with four people and 2 dogs on board, which had run…
The congregation at Kilodiernan Church in Puckane for the ecumenical service of thanksgiving for the Lough Derg Yacht Club Regatta, 200 years of the RNLI and 20 years of the Lough Derg lifeboat
On Sunday morning (18 August), as part of an ecumenical service of thanksgiving for the Lough Derg Yacht Club Regatta at Kilodiernan Church in Puckane, the Nenagh Union of Parishes included a celebration of the RNLI’s 200 years of lifesaving…
Clogherhead RNLI's all-weather Shannon class lifeboat
On Sunday, August 18, the Coast Guard tasked Clogherhead RNLI volunteers with coming to the aid of a fisherman onboard a fishing vessel who needed medical care. At 2.55 a.m. Clogherhead lifeboat received a request from the Irish Coast Guard…
The new lifeboat station at Arranmore RNLI
Arranmore RNLI has been having a busy time responding to emergency call-outs, organising the official opening of the new boathouse, saying goodbye to the coxswain after 51 years of service welcoming a new coxswain and five new crew members. From…

Every Year Ireland's Search & Rescue Services deliver emergency life saving work on our seas, lakes and rivers.

Ireland's Water Safety Agencies work hard to provide us with the information we need to keep safe, while enjoying all manner of water based activities.

There's no better fun than getting out on the water but being afloat is a responsibility we all need to take seriously.

These pages detail the work of the rescue agencies. We also aim to promote safety standards among pleasure boaters, and by doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland waters. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]

Think Before You Sink - Wear a Lifejacket

Accidents can happen fast on water and there may not be time to reach for a lifejacket in an emergency therefore don't just carry a lifejacket - wear it; if it's not on you, it can't save your life.

Irish Water Safety's Safe Boating Alert:

Check condition of boat and equipment, hull, engine, fuel, tools, torch.

Check the weather forecast for the area.

Check locally concerning dangerous currents and strong tides.

Do not drink alcohol while setting out or during your trip.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion e.g. sails and oars or motor and oars.

Carry a first aid kit on board and distress signals (at least two parachute distress rockets, two red hand flares).

Carry a fire extinguisher, a hand bailer or bucket with lanyard and an anchor with rope attached.

Carry marine radio or some means of communication with shore.

Do not overload the boat - this will make it unstable.

Do not set out unless accompanied by an experienced person.

Leave details of your planned trip with someone ashore - including departure and arrival times, description of boat, names of persons on board, etc.

Wear a Lifejacket at all times.

Keep an eye on the weather - seek shelter in good time.

In Marine Emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue.

Lifejackets Checklist

Ensure Cartridges have not been punctured and are secured firmly.

Ensure all zips, buckles, fasteners and webbing straps are functioning correctly and adjusted to fit the user.

Check that fitted lights are operating correctly.

Ensure that Automatic Inflation devices are fully serviced and in date.

Check that the valve or lifejacket is not leaking.